Who doesn’t occasionally — or regularly — get an afternoon craving for something sweet and chocolaty?

Although we usually keep little sweet treats at our desk for such an occasion, it’s nice to have options near the office if we need a break.

And all of downtown St. Paul has gained a lovely break spot with Legacy Chocolates, which opened a little storefront in the Pioneer Endicott building this fall.

We stopped by and tried an assortment of its truffles, brownies and other treats, and the deal is sealed: We have a regular place to go for a little something sweet when we’re feeling sluggish.

Truffles — rich, flavored chocolate ganache coated with more chocolate that ranges in intensity from 41 percent to 99 percent cacao — are the best bets. The truffles cost $25.75 for a 12-pack and a little more when sold singly.

Our favorites were the buttery, salty Himalayan caramel, coated with a 68 percent cacao, the percentage we found most palatable, and the boozy sweet bourbon. Other standouts were a very berry-tasting raspberry and the nutty, butterscotchy caramel pecan.

Choosing what percentage of coating is really based upon your tolerance for dark chocolate. Some of our tasters were enamored with the 99 percent, but most of us found the aftertaste bitter and chalky. The 85 percent might be a better way to go, even for dark-chocolate lovers.

As far as brownies and other sweet treats, a $2.95 portion is gigantic and easily sharable, unless you’re planning to make a meal out of it. The brownies are intensely chocolaty and topped with a thick layer of cream-cheese frosting spiked with mint or caramel or a kicky, chile-spiked Mexican chocolate ganache.

We didn’t love a German chocolate cake — it seemed a little soggy to us — but a shot of sipping chocolate ($2.25) was an indulgent afternoon pick-me-up.

And Valentine’s Day shoppers take note, your sweetie will definitely appreciate a box of these.

Jess Fleming has been with the Pioneer Press since 1999, and has been covering the Eat beat since 2012. She is an adventurous eater, cook and gardener, but will only grow something she can eat. She is a graduate of the journalism school at the University of Minnesota and a native of Eastern Wisconsin, where she grew up eating good brats, good cheese and fresh vegetables from her dad’s garden.

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